Vortex ring toy gun



May 19, 1931. G. J. LEJEUNE VORTEX RING TOY GUN Filed June 17, 1929 I J;l,

A TTORNEYQ INVEN TOR. 8,u 7? e Patented May 19, 1931 UNITED STATESGEORGE J. LEJ'EUNE, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA VORTEX RING TOY GUNApplication filed June 17,

My invention relates to improvements in toys and has particularreference to a toy gun of pneumatic type adapted to emit a vortex air orsmoke ring, which is the projectile fired at a target, or the like.

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates a novel and improved vortexring gun, which is very simple in construction, inexpensive ofmanufacture, easy to operate and which iiivolves a minimum number ofworking parts,

all of which are of a sturdy nature.

Another object ofthe invention resides in the provision of a device, asstated, wherein the ring may be expelled from the barrel with a minimumof friction, thus utilizing to the maximum the impelling force, wherebyto give the missile accuracy at a greater range than would otherwise bepossible.

A further object of the invention resides in a vortex ring gun, thebarrel of which is so formed as to keep the pneumatic or other vaporring to small diameter at long ranges, whereby individual targets may besingled out from a group so that in the use of the device more interestwill be developed because the results will depend to a large extent uponthe skill of the gunner.

A still further object is to furnish in a de vice of this kind a novelshutter and operating means therefor,-the shutter being arranged togenerate the air pressure within the barrel of the gun.

The invention also resides in certain other novel featuresofconstruction, combination and arrangement of the various parts and incertain modes of operation, all of which will be readily understood andappreciated by those skilled in the art upon reference to theaccompanying drawing in conjunction with the following detaileddescriptive matter.

It is understood that the subject matter claimed hereinafter permitsconsiderable change in, and departure from, the disclosure of thepreferred form of the invention, which is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings,

wherein,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of gun and showing also atype of target that may be used;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view 1929. Serial No. 371,456.

showing a frusto-conical form of the barrel;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a modified form of gun;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View through the gun shown inFigure 3, and

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Referring to the form of invention shown in Figures 1 and 2-, numeral 4:designates the base which supports the barrel 5, both of these partsbeing preferably made of sheet metal, and may be spot welded orotherwise secured together. The base has side portions 4 engagingopposite sides of the barrel. The barrel 5 is of truncated cone orfrusto-conical form and open at both ends, as indicated at 5*, 5 ,thelatter being the smaller or discharge end.

The drawings illustrate a closure shutter 6 at the flared intake end 5of the'barrel, and which in its seated position is disposed asubstantial distance within the barrel. The shutter 6 is pivoted as at 6in barrel o and has attached thereto one end of a coil spring 8, theother end of the spring being anchored to the barrel 5 as at 8 A pullring? is secured to the rear face of the shutter 6. From theconstruction described and illustrated it will be apparent that when thering 7 is pulled rearwardly to swing the shutter out of the barrel,(Figure 2) and then released the action of the shutterin seating itselfis instantaneous and will generate compression in the barrel 5 forcing avortex ring from the discharge end 5 It is understood that the ring willcommence forming as the air is forced toward the discharge end, thetendency being for the rings to decrease'in diameter while approachingthe discharge end 5 and to likewise decrease for a substantial dis tanceafter having been emitted from such discharge end. Thus, at long rangesthe gunner of ability is enabled to single out and hit one target of agroup, a thing impossible with guns heretofore'used involving the vortexring principle owing to the fact that the rings emitted rapidly increasein. diameter as soon as they leave the barrel.

In Figures 3 and 4, a further form of the invention is illustratedwherein the barrel 10 and the support 11 are integral,the supportdefining a barrel-communicating chamber having air inlet holes 12adjacent the bot tom. Thus, air is supplied to chamber 11 through theseholes to be forced into the barrel under the impulse of the shutter 13in moving from its rearward to its vertical seating position, as shown.The shutter 13 is actuated by a coil spring 14 one lateral end 14*resting upon the base 11 while the other lateral spring end 14" bearsagainst the outer face of the shutter 18, the spring having a securingrod 15 extending therethrough and seated in recesses in the side wallsof chamber 11.

However, in the latter form of the invention the shutter is operated bya control handle 16 secured thereto, the shutter being pivoted, as at13, to the floor of the base 11 at the intersection of the barreltherewith.

The targets 30 are preferably pivoted on a rod 31 carried by spaceduprights 32 which are hinge-d as at 33 to the base 34 so that they maybe folded down on the base when desired.

The novel features of construction and the advantages flowing therefromare believed to be readily apparent to those skilled in the art fromwhat has been said and shown herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A vortex ring gun comprising a base, abarrel carried by said base, the barrel being open at both ends anddecreasing in diameter in the direction of the discharge end, andmovable closure means at the inlet barrel end for forcing air in thedirection of the discharge end ofthe barrel.

2. A vortex ring gun comprising a base, a barrel carried by said baseand decreasing in diameter toward the discharge end thereof, a shutternormally arranged to close the inlet end of said barrel, and means forforcibly actuating said shutter to seated position for forcing airthrough said barrel.

3. In a vortex ring gun, a barrel having its internal diameter graduallyreduced from a point adjacent to and in the direction of the dischargeend of said barrel, and movable closure means adjacent the inlet end ofthe barrel for forcing air therethrough.

4. In a vortex ring gun, a barrel having its internal diameter graduallyreduced from a point adjacent to and in the direction of the dischargeend of said barrel, means comprising a swingable shutter for sealing theinlet end of the barrel, and means for causing the rapid and forcefulseating of said shutter whereby to generate airpressure within saidbarrel for the emission at the discharge end of a vortex ring.

5. A vortex ring gun comprising a base providing a chamber, said chamberhaving air inlets, a barrel communicating with said chamber and havingits internal diameter decreasing in the direction of the discharge endthereof, a swingably supported shutter separating said base chamber andbarrel, yielding means normally tending to hold said shutter seated andfor rapidly and forcefully seating said shutter, an operating leverconnected to said shutter and projecting laterally of said base memberand barrel whereby said shutter may be drawn back, and said base memberchamber being dimensioned with respect to the path of movement of theouter end of said shutter so that when the same assumes seated positionthe space between the end of the shutter and the corresponding wall ofthe base member chamber will gradually decrease as the shutterapproaches seating position whereby to force great volumes of air intoand through said barrel.

6. A vortex ring gun comprising a base member having a chamber, airinlets provided in said chamber adjacent the bottom, a barrel carried bysaid base member and communicating with the chamber thereof, a shuttercarried by said base member and within the chamber thereof for sealingthe barrel, means for movably mounting said shutter, external operatingmeans without said base member chamber for actuating said shutter, andsaid barrel decreasing in diameter in the direction of the discharge endthereof.

7. A vortex ring gun comprising a chambered casing, a barrelcommunicating with the casing and having a constricted discharge end,and'a pivoted shutter operable to force air through said barrel.

8. A vortex ring gun comprising a chambered casing, abarrelcommunicating with the casing and having its bore taperedinwardlyadjacent and toward the muzzle, and a pivoted shutter operable to forceair through said barrel.

9. A vortex ring gun. comprising a'chambered casing, a barrelcommunicating with the casing and having a constricted discharge end,and a pivoted shutter operable to force air through said barrel, andsaid chamber having a wall gradually approaching the path of the end ofthe shutter in the direction of said barrel. v

' In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' GEORGE J. LEJEUNE.

